From The Archives: Valentine’s Day Cards

While giving cards and writing letters to express admiration and affection has been occurring since ancient times, something akin to what we know of today as a Valentine’s Day card has roots back to medieval Europe. In the 18th century Europeans and Americans began to exchange Valentine’s Day cards in a more widespread manner. This phenomenon coincided with an improvement in printing technology which allowed the Valentine’s Day card market to expand.

Our archives house a number of different types of Valentine’s Day cards. The cards showcase affection not only for those romantically loved by another but also to those who were sick, shut-in or to any other significant person in one's life. Exchanging cards on February 14th goes beyond modern consumerism, it is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years.